Ex-Gombe gov Goje reaffirms APC membership

Former governor of Gombe State and senator representing Gombe Central, Danjuma Goje, has dismissed speculation that he is planning to dump the All Progressives Congress.

Goje made the rebuttal after hundreds of his supporters from Gombe Central and neighbouring communities visited his residence, seeking clarification on his political future ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Kashere, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

Addressing supporters, Goje, a founding member of the APC, reaffirmed his membership of the party and urged his supporters to remain loyal to the party.

He said, “I have not defected to any political party. As a founding member of the APC, I remain a member of the party.

“Given my years of service and the positions I have held in the country, it would be inappropriate for me, at this stage of my life, to decamp to another party simply to contest for the Senate.

“However, it would have been a different ball game if I were contesting for a higher position.

“Therefore, I am urging all my supporters across Gombe and beyond to cooperate with our leaders and remain loyal to the party. This is our house. We built it, and we will continue to work for its success.”

Goje, who has been active in politics for almost 45 years, recalled his political career, saying he had contested elections eight times and won all of them.

“Allah SWT has seen me through in politics and beyond. I have held many positions in this country, and not many people have had the kind of privilege I have had.

“During these over four decades, I was elected a member of a State House of Assembly and served as a two-term governor. I also won election to the Senate five times, the first being during the Abacha era. I served as a minister between 1999 and 2001,” he stated.

The former governor said he had initially retired from active politics in 2019 but returned to contest the 2023 Senate election after pressure from his supporters.

“In 2019, I told my people at Pantami Stadium that I would not contest any political position again. But they prevailed on me to contest for the Senate again. They bought the form for me and told me not to come for the campaign because they would campaign for me.

“I won even when I did not come out to campaign during the electioneering period. I remain grateful to Allah and my people for their loyalty and for believing in me,” he said.

Goje, who has represented Gombe Central in the Senate for several terms, also assured his supporters that his empowerment programmes would continue irrespective of his political status.

The clarification comes as political activities and consultations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with politicians and supporters across the country positioning themselves ahead of the polls.